Piece dyeing machine



April 24, 1962 M. BROWN ETAL PIECE DYEING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledSept. 25, 1959 Fig] Milton Brown Jesse May INVENTORS 9 BY $5M Anmq:

April 24, 1962 M. BROWN ETAL 3,

PIECE DYEING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 v 9 l 58 74Milton Brown 54 Jesse May J 2 INVENTORS 9 68 BY uw April 24, 1962 M.BROWN ETAL PIECE DYEING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 25, 1959Mil/or Brown,

1N VEN TORS.

Jesse May nite P1.

This is an improvement over and a continuation inpart of my priorco-pending application Serial No. 770,- 951, for Piece Dyeing Machinefiled October 31, 1958, now abandoned.

This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements incloth treating equipment, and more specifically to a piece dyeingmachine. Herebefore when synthetic fibers were dyed the synthetic fiberswere passed through hot dye baths. However, it has been found that thismethod of dyeing the more recently developed, synthetic fibers is notthe most effective since the newer synthetic fibers are not readilypenetrated by dyeing fluids or bath unless the fibers are heated totemperatures in excess of 212 F. at which temperatures these fibersbegin to soften and will quite readily be penetrated by dyeing fluids.

In order to maintain cloth or material made of these synthetic fibers,which are more commonly referred to as high temperature synthetics, thevessel in which the fabric is being dyed must be heated as well as thedyeing fluids themselves. However, when the dyeing fluids are mixed, acertain amount of dyeing agent is mixed with the fluid base used inorder to enable the fabric to pass through the dyeing fluids anapproximate number of predetermined times to obtain the desired color.Therefore, vapor from the dyeing fluids must not be allowed to escapefrom the dyeing vessel in any quantity since the result would be astronger dyeing bath. Further, in order to obtain a dyeing bathtemperature in excess of 21 F. the vessel in which the fabric is beingdyed must be pressurized. It is therefore the primary object of thisinvention to provide a piece dyeing machine which is in the form of anenclosed chamber whereby the temperature and pressure within the chambermay be controlled to that desired and the synthetic fibers dyed underthese controlled conditions.

Another object of this invention is to provide a piece dyeing machinewhich includes a closed chamber, the chamber having extendinglongitudinally thereof a drive reel and an idler reel whereby the pieceof synthetic fiber being dyed may be continuously moved through thelower part of the machine, the machine being so constructed whereby thedye disposed therein may be heated to the desired temperature, whichwhen dyeing high temperature synthetics is above 212 F., pressurized anamount sufficient to eliminate boiling of the entire dyeing bath.

Another object of this invention is to provide a piece dyeing machinewhich includes an elongated chamber having end walls, there beingpositioned within the chamber and extending between the end walls a pairof reels, one of the reels being a drive reel and the other being anidler reel, the reels being placed above the bottom of the chamber andin ofiset relation both vertically and transversely of the chamberwhereby as the piece being dyed passes over the main drive reel it willdrop down into the bottom of the chamber in a generally folded conditionand then move through the bottom of the chamber after which it is drawnup over the idler reel.

A further object of this invention is to provide a piece dyeing machinefor synthetic fibers and the like, the piece dyeing machine including asealed chamber in which the synthetic fibers to be dyed may bepositioned, the chamber to be provided with the necessary dye materialsand additionally have steam lines mounted therein whereby fitates Eatenthfidfiflfil Patented Apr. 24, 1962 lee the steam may be used both forthe purpose of heating the interior of the charnber and the dye materialand pressurizing the interior of the chamber.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a piece dyeingmachine including a sealed chamber in which the synthetic fibers to bedyed may be positioned, the chamber being provided with the necessarydye materials and additionally having closed steam lines mounted thereinwhereby steam may be used for heating the chamber and the dye materialscontained therein without effect upon the pressure within the vessel, acompressed air system being provided for regulating the pressure withinthe chamber.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the piece dyeing machine and shows thegeneral outline of one form thereof;

FiGURE 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantiallyupon the plane indicated by the section line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 and showsthe specific details of the construction of the piece dyeing machine;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken substantiallyupon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 and showsfurther the details of the interior of the piece dyeing machine;

FIGURE 4 is a generally horizontal sectional view taken substantiallyupon the plane indicated by the sation line i i of FIGURE 2 and showsfurther the details of the internal construction of the piece dyeingmachine, the view also being on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantiallyupon the plane indicated by the section line 55 of FIGURE 4 and showsthe manner in which the main drive reel is releasably connected to amotor driven drive shaft;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken substantiallyupon the plane indicated by the section line 6-6 of FIGURE 4 and showsthe manner in which the opposite end of the main drive reel is mounted,there also being shown the details of a removable plate to facilitatethe repair of the drive reel and the idler reel;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged transverse sectional view similar to FlGURE 2but showing a modified form of the invention which utilizes closed steamlines for heat and a compressed air system for pressurizing the chamber;and

FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatic view in persective showing the modified formof pressure and heating system.

Referring now to FIGURES 1-6 in the drawings in detail, it will be seenthat there is illustrated one form of the piece dyeing machine which isthe subject of this invention, the piece dyeing machine being referredto in general by the reference numeral 10. The piece dyeing machine 149includes a generally cylindrical chamber 12 having outwardly dished ends14 and 16. The cylindrical chamber 12 is mounted on suitable foundationmembers 18 so that it may be supported above the floor of the buildingin which it is mounted, the floor line being indicated by the referencenumeral Zil.

Referring now to FIGURE 2 in particular, it will be seen that theinterior of the chamber 12 is provided with a baffle plate 22 whichextends across the bottom thereof. The baflle plate 22 is perforated andmay be mounted in any desired manner including the direct weldingthereof as at 24. The baffle plate 22 also includes an upwardly slopingend portion 26 which is suitably secured to the interior of thecylindrical chamber 12 as at 28. The extension 26 is also perforated.

Secured to the baffle plate extension 26 on that face thereof opposingthe interior surface of the cylindrical chamber 12 are suitable steamlines 30. The steam lines 30 are coupled to a steam supply line 32 whichopens through the exterior of the cylindrical chamber 12, as is bestshown in FIGURE 1.

It is the intention of this invention that the necessary dye liquid bedisposed in the bottom of the cylindrical chamber 12. This dye liquidwill best operate on synthetic fabrics at a temperature in excess of 212F. and at a relatively high pressure of 15 pounds or more. For thatreason, the steam lines 30 are provided to heat the interior of thecylindrical chamber 12 and the dye liquid contained therein.Additionally, the interior of the cylindrical chamber 1'2 may bepressurized by opening the steam lines 30 directly into the interior ofthe cylindrical chamber 12 by means of perforations (not shown) so thatthe steam may both heat and pressurize the interior of the cylindricalchamber 12.

In order that access to the interior of the cylindrical chamber 12 maybe had for the purpose of positioning and removing pieces of syntheticfibers to be dyed, the cylindrical chamber 12 is provided with suitableaccess openings 34 which are best illustrated in FIGURE 1. The accessopenings 34 are closed by means of doors 36 having windows 38. The doors36 are positioned within the cylindrical chamber 12 and are mounted bymeans of hinges 40. Suitable latches 42 are provided to retain the doors36 in their closed positions and sealing strips 44 form a seal betweenthe doors 36 and the cylindrical chamber 12. Because the individualdoors 36 are provided with windows 38, the operation of the piece dyeingmachine 10 may be observed.

It is the intention of this invention that the synthetic fibers beingdyed be repeatedly passed through the dye liquid. In order to accomplishthis, there is mounted within the cylindrical chamber two reels. One ofthese reels is in the form of a main drive reel 46 and the other reel isin the form of an idler reel 48. The idler reel 48 is preferablyhexagonal in cross section, as is best shown in FIGURE 2 and isrotatably journaled in suitable bearings 50 carried by mounting brackets52 secured to the interior surfaces of the dished ends 14 and 16, as isbest shown in FIGURE 3.

Although the main drive reel 46 also extends between the dished ends 14and 16 of the cylindrical chamber 12, inasmuch as the main drive reel 46is driven, the mounting thereof is quite different from that of theidler reel 48. Mounted on the dished end 14 in alignment with the maindrive reel 46 is a suitable power unit 54 which is preferably in theform of an electric motor. The power unit 54 is seated on a platform 56secured to the end 14, and has a drive shaft 58.

Referring now to FIGURE in panticular, it will be seen that the dishedend 14 is provided with an internally projecting boss 60 which hasseated in the outer portion thereof a suitable thrust bearing 62. Thethrust bearing 62 is engaged with a reduced portion 64 of the shaft 58.Further, the innermost portion of the boss 60 has positioned thereinsuitable packing 66 and a packing nut 68 so as to form a stufling boxand thus prevent the escape of the dye liquid through the dished end 14.

The drive reel 46 is provided at the left end thereof with an end plate70. Projecting from the plate 70 is a non-circular cross sectional stubshaft 72 which is received in a similar cross sectional opening 74 inthe end of the drive shaft 58. Thus the main drive reel 46 is releasablydrivingly connected to the drive shaft 58 to be driven from theexternally mounted power unit 54.

Alined with the opposite end of the drive reel 46 is an opening 76 inthe dished end 16. The opening 76 is provided so that repairs to thereels 46 and 48 may be accomplished. Also, the reels 46 and 48 may beremoved through the opening 76. The opening 76 is normally closed bymeans of a closure plate 78 which is supported by a hinge unit 80. Theclosure plate 78 is sealed with respect to the dished end 16 by means ofa sealing strip 82 and is held in its closing position by means of dogs84 which are pivotally mounted on pins 86.

The closure plate 78 is provided with an internally projecting boss 88.The boss 88 having mounted in the outer part thereof a thrust bearing 90in which there is received a reduced portion 92 of a shaft 94.Surrounding the shaft 94- is a suitable packing ring 96 which is held inplace by means of a packing nut 98 to form a stuffing box for the shaft94.

The right hand end of the drive reel 46 is also provided with a plate100. The shaft 94 is illustrated as being directly secured to the plate100 for supporting the right hand end of the drive reel 46. However, ifdesired, a two piece shaft could be used here also.

As is best shown in FIGURE 2, the drive reel 46 is generally diamondshaped in cross section. The shape and proportion of the drive reel 46is such that as a piece of material being dyed passes thereover, it willbe folded and dropped in folds to the bottom portion of the cylindricalchamber 12 therebeneath, as is best illustrated in FIGURE 2. The pieceof synthetic fiber being dyed is referred to by the reference numeral102. The piece of material 102 will be passed into the interior of thecylindrical chamber 12 through one of the openings 34 and will have themajor portion thereof seated in the bottom part of the cylindricalchamber 12. The ends of the piece of material will be passed over thedrive reel 46 and the idler reel 48, respectively, and suitablytemporarily connected together as at 104.

After the piece dyeing machine 10 has been loaded, the drive reel 46 isdriven. The drive reel 46 will serve to pull the piece of material 102up over the idler reel 48 and then up over itself after which the pieceof material 102 is dropped down into the lower part of the cylindricalchamber 12in folds, as is shown in FIGURE 2. Inasmuch as the bottom partof the cylindrical chamber 12 is filled with the dye liquid, it will beseen that as the piece of material 102 passes through the lower part ofthe cylindrical chamber 12, the necessary dyeing operation will takeplace.

The cylindrical chamber 12 is also provided with a bottom drain 106. Thedrain 106 is for the purpose of draining the dye liquid from thecylindrical chamber 12 either when it is desired to change colors ofdyes or when the usefulness of the dye liquid has ended.

Referring now more specifically to FIGURES 7 and 8 wherein there isillustrated a preferred modification of the dyeing machine generallydesignated by the reference numeral 110. The piece dyeing machine 110 issimilar in most respects to the machine 10 and includes a cylindricalchamber 112 mounted on suitable foundation members 118. The chamber 11further includes a perforated baifle plate 122 having an upwardlysloping portion 126 which are suitably secured to the chamber 112 as at124 and 128 respectively.

The operation of the machine 110 is identical with that of the machine10, that is to say, the synthetic material 202 is disposed within thechamber 112 and over the drive and idler reels 146 and 148 to passthrough the dyeing materials which may be drained from the chamber 112through drain 206.

The material 202 is loaded through the access openings 134 after thedoors 136 having windows 138 have been opened. The doors 136 are thenclosed and retained in their closed position by means of suitablelatches 142.

To heat the chamber 112 suitable closed steam lines 130 are providedwhich are coupled at one end to a steam supply line 132 and at the otherend to a return line 133, which lines 132 and 133 are connected to asteam source (not shown). The temperature within the chamber 112 and thedyeing both may thus be controlled by the steam passing through lines132.

Inasmuch as the temperature desired to aid the dyeing of the hightemperature synthetics in popular use today is in the neighborhood of240 F., the chamber is pressurized to enable temperatures in this rangeof both the chamber and the dyeing bath.

To pressurize the chamber 112 a pressure line 141 is provided whichcommunicates with the interior of the chamber at one end and isconnected to a suitable compressed air supply at the other end, whichsupply may be in the form of air compressor 143.

With means for separately controlling both the pressure and temperaturewithin the chamber 112 the most advantageous conditions can be attainedfor the process of dyeing the difierent high temperature synthetics.

It is to be noted that although the degree of pressurizing has beenmentioned herein to be in the neighborhood of 15 pounds or more, thepressure within the chamber for the most part will be at leastsufficient to eliminate boiling of the entire dyeing bath and that thetemperature therein will be sufficient to soften the fibers to theextent whereby they will, in a relatively short time, absorb the desiredquantity of dye and not be just coated by the dye, which temperaturecould conceivably be in the neighborhood of 300 F.

Further, it is to be understood that any suitable separate means may beused to pressurizing and heating the interior of the chamber in thepreferred form of the invention.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that there has beendevised a very simple piece dyeing machine which, although simple, is ofsuch a nature whereby synthetic fibers may be dyed at both a relativelyhigh temperature and a high pressure. This is accomplished by formingthe chamber of the piece dyeing machine so as to be pressurized and bothpressurizing and heating the interior thereof. Because of the simplearrangement of the reels, both the drive reel and the idler reel, thepiece of material to be dyed is effectively moved through the dye liquidto accomplish the desired dyeing operation.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A piece dyeing machine comprising a chamber having ends, a drive reelextending between said ends, an idler reel extending between said ends,said chamber being sealed, and a steam line opening into said chamberfor heating the interior of said chamber and for raising the pressuretherein suflicient to eliminate all boiling of the dyeing fluidcontained therein when the temperature of the latter has been raised toclose to 240 F., an access opening in one of said ends, a cover platefor said access opening, one end of said drive reel being supported bysaid cover plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS775,450 Iefierson Nov. 22, 1904 1,948,568 Faber Feb. 27, 1934 2,133,823McClellan Oct. 18, 1938 2,391,905 Kaufimann Jan. 1, 1946 2,412,188Wolfenden Dec. 3, 1946 2,633,009 Steverlynck Mar. 31, 1953 2,702,464Bohm Feb. 22, 1955 2,706,391 Belcher Apr. 19, 1955 2,792,702 Newcomb May21, 1957

